Against the backdrop of the Centre initiating action against certain NGOs opposing the Kudankulam nuclear plant, Congress' Maharashtra unit demanded a probe into "motives and funding patterns" of private groups and Shiv Sena that are opposing Jaitapur atomic power project.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan remained noncommittal over the demand while Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray rubbished allegations of foreign funding to the proposed Jaitapur project in Ratnagiri district.
State Congress spokesman Sachin Sawant in his letter to the Minister of State in PMO V Narayansamy has sought a probe against the NGOs associated with the stir and Shiv Sena which is spearheading the campaign against the project.
When asked if he backed the demand for the probe, Chavan said he was not aware of the names of any individuals or organisations.
"If anybody is working against national interests, the Centre will take action," he told reporters.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said Maharashtra government was committed to complete the 9,900 MW Jaitapur nuclear power project.
"...It will happen," he said, adding a nuclear power project is also coming up in the neighbouring Gujarat.
Pawar also criticised Shiv Sena for disallowing former Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) chairman Anil Kakodkar from speaking about the project at an event early this week.
"How can one justify this high-handed behaviour of Shiv Sena," he said.
Uddhav Thackeray said, "If somebody feels that money is being given to protest against the Jaitapur nuclear power project, then I think they are with rotten heads."
Refuting the allegations against his party, Thackeray, however, said that perhaps those people should be investigated who have the willingness to go ahead with the project, despite opposition from the locals.
